"Boar" - medieval pilgrim badge
The white boar was chosen as his personal emblem by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III. This symbol is part of a set of drawings from around 1466-1470, mostly featuring the emblems of the House of York.
According to surviving records from the royal dressing room, thousands of badges with a boar motif were produced in preparation for Richard's coronation in July 1483 to reinforce his personal propaganda and the presence of loyalty in the crowd. The badge thus served no religious purpose, but as a political and dynastic symbol during a period of intense rivalry between the houses of York and Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses.
This particular badge dates from England, 1483-1484, a brief period in Richard's reign. Badges of this type were distributed to subjects, soldiers and courtiers as a visible sign of affiliation and support.
Based on the book "Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges" by Brian Spencer.
Cast in brass. Dimensions: 40 × 30 mm.
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